suffix
|suf-fix|
B2
/ˈsʌfɪks/
end addition
Etymology
Etymology Information
'suffix' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'suffixus', where 'sub-' meant 'under' and 'figere' meant 'to fix'.
Historical Evolution
'suffixus' transformed into the French word 'suffixe', and eventually became the modern English word 'suffix' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to fix under', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an affix added to the end of a word'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a morpheme added at the end of a word to form a derivative, such as '-ly' in 'quickly' or '-ness' in 'happiness'.
The suffix '-ed' is used to form the past tense of regular verbs.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39